NEW COMMITS: The University of Vermont has received a pair of verbal commitments from Skyler Ayers and JennyO’Neil, both of whom will join the Catamounts in the fall of 2019.

Ayers will make her way to Burlington, Vt. from Charleston, S.C. where she does her club swimming for City of Charleston Southern Marlins. She placed tenth in the 50 free at the SC SCY Championships in February and recorded six personal bests at ISCA Seniors this summer. Ayers also won the 100 free at the SCHSL 3A State Championships earlier this fall.

Photo Courtesy: Skyler Ayers

Ayers will add valuable depth to a Vermont sprint training group that includes Sierra Sexton and Kira Parker. Although she sits just outside of scoring range at the America East Championships, Ayers has continuously made improvements each season with just under a year of club swimming still to go.

She told Swimming World:

“I chose UVM because the second I stepped on campus and met with the team it felt like where I was meant to be. Every body was kind, motivated, and passionate, and for me everything just clicked.”

Her best times include:

50 free – 24.91

100 free – 54.20

200 free – 2:00.93

Hailing from Abington, Mass., O’Neil swims year-round with South Shore Mill Pond YMCA and concluded her long course season with three swims at YMCA Nationals. She raced the 100 fly and 200 IM at YMCA Nationals in April after achieving 100% lifetime bests at New England Seniors last winter with her highest finish being a 16th-place showing in the 100 fly.

Photo Courtesy: Jenny O’Neil

When she suits up for the Catamounts at the start of the 2019-20 season, O’Neil will join a fly group led by Vivian Nguyen and a backstroke training squad that includes Morgan Montgomery and Amelia Baxley. She would’ve scored in the A-final of the 100 fly at America Easts last season.

She told Swimming World:

“UVM was the perfect fit for me academically and athletically. Right when I stepped on campus, I truly felt at home. Go Cats!!!!”